Loading chute



Dec. 2, 1924.

L. KNOPP LOADING CHUI'E Filed Dec. 19, 1923 zsneezs-sheet i {NE/ENTQR. I 1,0555 fl. Kwopp,

Hi3 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 2, 1924.

ATENT orrlce.

LOUIS A. KNOPP, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO BBODERICK & 'BASOOM ROPE 2 00h, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI.

LOADING oI-IUTE.

Application filed Decemberlfi, 1923. Seriatl No. 681,530.

To all whom it may concernr Be it known that I, LoUIs A. KNOPP, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a new and useful Loading Chute, of which the following is a specification.

' This invention relates to loading chutes.

An object of the invention is to provide a loading chute with a pivoted lip at its discharge end capableof being raised to permit a bucket or other receptacle to be moved quickly to receiving position below the lip, in combination with a gate above the lip, and means for operating the gate and the lip in an order in which the gate nearly closes the chute before the lip begins to rise.

Another object of the invention is to provide a chute with a gate movable to open and to closed positions, and a compound system of rollers for holding the gate in proper alinement during operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a chute embodying all of the useful and advantageous subject matter herein dis closed.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a view showing the roller and track devices for guiding the gate.

Fig. 3 is'a plan view further showing the roller and track structure.

Fig. 4 is a view lookingupwardly toward the lower end of the chute.

Fig. 5 is a view showing the counterweight device in connection with the levers that operate the chute door and lip.

Fig. 6 is a detail view showing the conneotion between the counterweight devices and the levers.

Fig. 7 is a view showing the pivotal connection between the lip and the chute proper.

The chute in connection with which the present invention is shown comprises an inclined bottom wall 1 and vertical side walls 2. Near the lower or discharge end of the chute the bottom wall 1 and the side walls 2 are divided throughout the width of the bottom wall and the height of the side walls forming a slot 3 through which the gate 4 is movable to open and to closed positions. The adjacent portions of each side wall are connected by brackets 5 thereby securing the two separated portions of the chute in rigid connection.

The side edges of the gate extend outwardly beyond the outer sides of the Sid walls 2; Each of the side edges has attached thereto apair of roller supports 6 and each roller support is equipped with a pair of rollers 7 operating on axes at right angles to each other and against the flanges of a track member 8 attached to the sidewalls 2 and extending downwardly a considerable distance below the chute. These parts are arranged in such relationship that one flange of each track member 8 is adjacent to and parallel with the extended side edge of the gate 4, while the other flange of each track member. is secured flat against the side wall 2 of the chute; two of the rollers 7 at each side of the chute operate against the flange of the track 8 that is parallel with and adjacent to the gate 1, while the other two rollers at each side of the chute operate against the flanges of the tracks 8 that are against the side walls 2. This provides a compound roller arrangement which prevents the gate from becoming jammed or biased. and renders operation of the gate easy and positive. V

The lip that is pivoted to the lower end of the chute comprises a bottom wall 9 and side walls 10. The bottom wall 9 of the lip extends under the lower end of the bottom wall 1 of the chute, while the side walls 10 of the lip embrace the side walls 2 of the chute between them. The chute is pivotally supported on pivots 11 extending through the side walls 2 of the chute and through the side walls 10 of the lip and through a strengthening strap 12 attached to the side walls 2 above the lip and extending downwardly at the outersides of the lip side walls 10, so thatthe side walls of the lip operate between the side walls 2 of the chute and the straps 12.

A rockshaft 13 is mounted in a support which may be in the form shown or of other construction, as desired. The support shown comprises a pair of bars 1& having their upper ends attached to the pivots 11 and their lower ends supporting the shaft 13. Angle irons 15 are attached attheir upi per ends to the track members 8 and have their lower ends provided with holes through which the shaft 13 extends for rocking movements. The upper ends of the angle irons 15 are rigidly connected by a cross member 16 so that the support for the shaft 13 is made rigid.

The shaft 13 supports a bell crank lever of which the arm '17 is connected by links 18 with a bracket 19 attached to the lower edge of the gate at. The other arm 20 of the bell crank lever referred to has pin in slot connection 21 with the lower end of a link 22, the upper end of which is pivoted to a bracket 23 attached to the bottom wall 9 of the lip between the pivot 11 and 'the upper end of the lip. The shaft '13 is pro vided with operating means which, as shown, comprises a lever'2 l.

The connections between the bell crank lever 1-720 and the gate 4 and the lip-are such that when the leverQt is'operated the gate 4 will be raised nearly to-c'losed position, that is nearly'to the height of the side wallsof-the chute before the lip begins to move. The result is that the movement-of the material along the chute is stopped'by the gate before the lip be 2;insto-move, thus affording time forall .of'the material below the gate to be discharged from the lip before the lip is operated. When the'lever '24 is operated the parts are moved'to the position shown by dotted lines -(Fig. 1 thereby-raising the-lowerendof the lip'to a=-suflicient heightto permit a tramway bucket or other receptacleto be moved quickly to re ceiving position close to the-discharge end of th'echute. 'lVlientheparts are-operated to lower the lip and-open'the gate, thelip is lowered rapidly placing the lower discharge end thereof directly above the bucket or receptacle before the gate opens. This insures that'thematerial will be discharged into the bucketor receptacle.

The connection between the arm 20 of the bell crank lever andlink 22 supports a counterbalance weight 25 which assists in the operation.

From the foregoing it will beseen that my invention obtains allofiits intended objects and purposes in ahighly efficient manner.

Thegate is held by the system of compound rollers so that itis impossible for it to become jammed or'biased, and-the operation of the parts is timed in such relationship that bestresults are obtained.

I am awarethat the construction and arrangement may be varied considerably Without departure from the nature and principle of the invention. I do not restrict myself unessentially, but what I claimand desire -to' secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a loading chute, a gate for closing the chute above the discharge end, a lip pivotally supported at the discharge end of the the gate is moved nearly to closed position before the lip is moved and in which the lip is returned to delivery position before the gate is opened.

3. In a loadingchute, a gate for closing the chute above the discharge end,a lip piv- 3 otally supported at the-discharge end of the chute, mechanism for operating-the gate-and the lip in a time order in which the gate is moved nearly to closed position before the lip is moved, and a counterweightdevice'cooperating with said -mechanism and facilitating operation thereof.

4:. Ina loadingchute, a gate :for closing thechute, a right angled trackimember at each side of the chute, a number of rollers supported by the gate on axes at-right. angles to each other and certain of said rollers operating against one angle of the adjacent track member and theremainingrollers-operating against the other angle of thetrack member, and means for operating'the gate.

5. In a loading chute, a,gate forclosing thechute, a right angle track member at each side of the chute, a number of rollers supported by the gate on axesat rightan- :gles to each other and certain of saidrollers operating against one angle ofthe adjacent track member and the remaining rollersoperating against the other angle of the track ment with the gate, and a connection between said second lever and they gate.

6. A loading chute comprising agate for opening and closing thechute, a lip pivoted to thelower discharge end ofthe chute, operating mechanism movable-to and from a starting position, means for operating the gateto closed position during entire movement of the operating mechanism from starting position, and means for raisingthe lower end of the lip during the final movement of the operating mechanism from starting position.

7. A loading chute comprising a gate for opening and closing the chute, ali'p pivoted to the lower discharge end of-the chute, operating mechansm movable to and from a starting position, means for operatingthe gate to closed position during entire move ment of the operating mechanism from starting position, and means for raising the lower end of the lip during the final-movement of the operating mechanism from starting position and lowering the lip during initial movement of the operating mechanism toward starting position.

8. A chute comprising side and bottom walls, a gate for closing the chute, mechanism for operating the gate, and the herein described system of compound rollers for guiding the gate.

9. A loading chute comprising side and bottom walls, right angled track members attached to said side walls, agate for opening and closing the chute, series of rollers supported by the gate and operating against both angles of said track members, and mechanism for operating the gate.

10. A loading chute comprising side and bottom walls, right angled track members attached to said side walls, a gate for opening and closing the chute, series of rollers supported by the gate and operating against both angles of said track members, a rock shaft, a lever attached to the rock shaft beyond the side of the chute, and a connection between said shaft and the gate beneath the chute.

11. A loading chute comprising side and bottom walls composed of spaced sections, a gate operable in the space between said sections to open and to close the chute, rigid connections between the sections of the side walls, right angled track members attached to the side walls, and the herein described system of compound rollers supported by the gate and operating against both angles of the respective track members.

12. A loading chute comprising side and bottom Walls composed of spaced sections, a gate operable in the space between said sections to open and to close the chute, rigid connections between the sections of the side.

walls, right angled track members attached to the side walls, the herein described system of compound rollers supported by the gate and operating against both angles of the respective track members, in combination with a lip pivoted to the lower end of the chute, and mechanism operable to move the gate toward closed position during the entire movement of said mechanism from a starting position and to raise the lip during final movement from starting position.

13. A loading chute comprising side and bottom walls composed of spaced sections, a gate operable in the space between said sections to open and to close the chute, rigid connections between the sections of the side Walls, right angled track members attached to the side walls, the herein described system of compound rollers supported by the gate'and operating against both angles of the respective track members, in combination with a lip pivoted to the lower end of the chute, and mechanism operable to move the gate toward closed position during the entire movement of said mechanism from a starting position and to raise the lip during final movement from starting position, and to permit the lip to lower during initial movement toward starting position and to open the gate during entire movement toward starting position.

14. A loading chute comprising side and bottom walls composed of spaced sections, a gate operable in the space between said sections to open and to close the chute, rigid connections between the sections of the side walls, right angled track members attached to the side walls, the herein described system of compound rollers supported by the gate and operating against both angles of the respective track members, in combination with a lip pivoted to the lower end of the chute, mechanism operable to movethe gate toward closed position during the entire movement of said mechanism from a starting position and to raise the lip during final movement from starting position, and to permit the lip to lower during initial movement toward starting position and to open the gate during entire movement toward starting position, and a mechanical element facilitating the operation of said mechanism.

LOUIS A. KNOPP. 

